Latest news with #pleadeal
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Tulsi Gabbard reveals whether there's 'evidence' Epstein had foreign or domestic intel ties
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard did not rule out claims that wealthy financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was connected to foreign intelligence operations before he died in prison. The director spoke to reporters at the White House press briefing on Wednesday. 'I haven't seen any evidence or information that reflects that,' Gabbard said in response to a question from the Daily Mail, asking if she could rule out any connections that Epstein had to either foreign or domestic intelligence. 'If anything comes before me that changes that in any way, I support the president's statement loud and clear, if any credible evidence comes forward he wants the American people to see it,' she added. Epstein was given an enormously generous plea deal of just 13 months in June 2008, even after he was being investigated for multiple accounts of pedophilia and sex trafficking and facing 40 years in prison. The plea deal shocked federal prosecutors as they had obtained as many as 40 victims of Epstein, many of whom were willing to testify against him. The agreement was made with then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, who later reportedly said that he was told that Epstein 'belonged to intelligence' and to back away from the case. Acosta was later selected by Trump to serve in his first administration as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. During a July 2019 press conference, Acosta was asked to confirm if he was made aware that Epstein was an intelligence asset. Acosta did not deny the report but said he would 'hesitate to take as fact' the news in the story. 'A lot of reporting is just going down rabbit holes,' he concluded. Attorney General Pam Bondi said earlier this month she also did not know if Epstein was an intelligence asset. 'To him being an agent, I have no knowledge about that,' she said to reporters. Gabbard appeared at the briefing to detail the Russia collusion hoax, outlining what she described as 'treasonous' behavior by former President Barack Obama and former intelligence officials who she claimed colluded to perpetrate the Russia 'hoax' that tangled up President Trump's first term. 'The stunning revelations that we are releasing today should be of concern to every American,' she said. 'This is not about Democrats or Republicans, this has to do with the integrity of our Democratic republic.' She detailed behind-the-scenes information from declassified documents that revealed the roles that former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan, and former FBI director James Comey played in the effort to prove that Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. 'I'm not asking you to take my word for it, I'm asking you in the media to conduct honest journalism and the American people to see for yourself,' she said, referring to the documents she released on Friday and Wednesday. Referring to the 'Steele dossier,' compiled by former MI6 intelligence agent Christopher Steele on behalf of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, Gabbard noted that Brennan was the one who insisted on including the salacious and now discredited document into intelligence briefings to claim that Trump was connected to Russia, even as top officials contested the claim. She blamed the media for working with rogue intelligence agents to try and undermine the Trump administration. 'President Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Brennan, James Comey, James Clapper and others including the mouthpieces in the media knowingly lied when this was created ... with high confidence as though it were fact,' she said. Gabbard said she would refer all of the released documents to the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate the criminal nature of their actions. 'I'm not an attorney ... but when you look at the intent, creating a fake, manufactured intelligence document that directly contradicts multiple assessments created by the intelligence community, the expressed intent and what followed afterward can only be described as a year's long coup and treasonous conspiracy against the American people, our republic, and an attempt to undermine President Trump's administration,' she said.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Zach Edey's punishment revealed after NBA star was allegedly caught by cops speeding at 101mph
Zach Edey has reportedly agreed to pay $639.50 after the NBA star cut a plea deal with prosecutors to settle his reckless driving case. The Memphis Grizzlies center, who stands at 7ft 4ins, was charged after cops allegedly caught him speeding at 101mph in a 55mph zone on May 1. But on Wednesday, TMZ reported that the 23-year-old admitted to speeding and agreed to pay a fine. In return, the misdemeanor charge was dropped. The case first came to light last month, when it was reported that an Indiana State Trooper pulled Edey, 23, over at 7:03pm and issued him a citation. Edey, driving a Kia Sorento, reportedly told the officers that he was only travelling at that speed because he was trying to pass another vehicle. The former Purdue standout was taken ninth overall in the 2024 draft. He was a two-time national college player of the year with the Boilermakers. The incident occurred in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, which is where Purdue is based and Edey spent four seasons. It remains unclear whether the center will face any punishment from the NBA over the incident. Purdue's men's basketball team posted a photo of Edey in Mackey on May 6 where he could be seen alongside other players and alumni. Earlier this year it emerged that Edey could miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season after he underwent surgery on his left ankle. Edey needed the procedure to repair and restabilize his ankle after spraining it again during offseason training. He is slated to be evaluated again in three months, less than two weeks before the 2025-26 season opens October 21. The two-time national player of the year at Purdue missed 12 games early in the season because of a sprained left ankle. He went on to play in 66 games, making 55 starts, and averaged 9.2 points and a rookie-leading 8.3 rebounds. He was voted to the All-Rookie first team.
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Fox News
Matthew Perry ketamine doctor pleads guilty to distribution
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of Matthew Perry's ketamine providers, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of distribution of the dissociative drug. Plasencia, 43, admitted to four counts of distribution of ketamine, a plea deal he agreed to last month. Standing before Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a Los Angeles federal court, Plasencia said his legal team had "considered everything" when it came to the plea and subsequent sentencing. Prosecutors agreed to drop three additional counts against Plasencia in exchange for his guilty plea. He had been scheduled to go on trial next month alongside Jasveen Sangha, aka "The Ketamine Queen." The "Friends" star died on Oct. 28, 2023, after an apparent drowning in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home, authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time. He was 54. "Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry," his attorney, Karen Goldstein, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution. Dr. Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Mr. Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction." She added, "While Dr. Plasencia was not treating Mr. Perry at the time of his death, he hopes his case serves as a warning to other medical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in order to prevent future tragedies like this one." Rither Alabre, partner at Blank Rome's White Collar Defense & Investigations Group and former prosecutor, told Fox News Digital that Plasencia's plea is important for the case, and also sends a message. "The guilty plea by Dr. Plasencia is significant because he is the second doctor to plead guilty in relation to Mr. Perry's death, and the plea sends a strong message to drug dealers, as well as doctors and members of the medical community, that prosecutors are paying close attention and will vigorously prosecute these types of cases," Alabre said. Sentencing will be determined at a later date, but his charges may set the stage for prospective civil suits, according to entertainment and employment attorney Camron Dowlatshahi of MSD Lawyers. "Because the burden of proof is much higher in criminal cases versus civil cases – beyond a reasonable doubt vs. preponderance of evidence – having a criminal conviction in the bag makes it much easier to win a civil case," Dowlatshahi told Fox News Digital. "Typically, with a plea, the defendant will get much less prison time than the maximum, hence the agreement to plead guilty. Here, the maximum sentence is 40 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of at least $2 million. I would expect significantly less in all aspects. The punishment should be a warning to all physicians handling and distributing substances to do so with extreme care and humanity toward everyone, including those who are extremely wealthy and famous." Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, noted that Plasencia abused his position for financial gain, and caused a "gross violation of trust." "The punishment does fit the crime because Plasencia did not provide the fatal dose of ketamine that killed Perry," Rahmani said. "Perry's family could file a civil lawsuit, but they don't need the money, and even though Plasencia provided the supplies and training, that may not be enough to establish medical causation for a wrongful death case. Co-defendants Sangha, Fleming, and Iwamasa are more directly liable for Perry's death." Nearly nine months after Perry died, authorities announced that five people were arrested and charged with multiple counts in connection to his death. U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada said at one point that the defendants distributed approximately "20 vials for approximately $50,000 in cash" to Perry for Kenneth (Kenny) Iwamasa, Perry's live-in assistant, to distribute the drug to the actor. During another sale, the dealers "took advantage of Mr. Perry" by selling approximately "50 vials of ketamine for approximately $11,000 in cash." Plasencia, a ketamine source, was introduced to Perry by his assistant in September 2023. Plasencia, who obtained ketamine from Dr. Mark Chavez, allegedly taught the assistant how to inject Perry with the drug. Chavez previously ran a ketamine clinic and allegedly submitted a bogus prescription in the name of a former patient to secure the drug. Chavez agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as part of his plea agreement. The San Diego-based doctor admitted to selling ketamine to Plasencia, including ketamine that he had diverted from his former ketamine clinic. Iwamasa pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, and, per Estrada, has already filed a plea agreement. Fleming pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry. He also agreed to a plea deal. While Plasencia is accused of supplying the bulk of Perry's ketamine in his final weeks, defendant Sangha, who prosecutors allege was a major ketamine dealer, is alleged to have provided the dose that killed the actor. In addition to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, Sangha is also charged with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine. She is also scheduled to go to trial in August. She has pleaded not guilty – making her the only one of the five people charged in Perry's death who has not entered a plea agreement.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Doctor who gave Matthew Perry ketamine and called him 'a moron' pleads guilty to role in his death
The doctor who gave actor Matthew Perry doses of ketamine before he overdosed and drowned in the hot tub of his LA home has pleaded guilty to playing a role in his death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia appeared in federal court on Wednesday and was mostly quiet as the judge went over the plea agreement for nearly an hour. Plasencia, who was often called 'Dr. P', was facing in a potential 40-year prison sentence had he not taken the plea deal. He is expected to return to court on December 3 for sentencing and will face up to 10 years in federal prison. When asked by the judge if he and his lawyers had considered all the possibilities of pleas and sentencing in the case, the 43-year-old physician replied, 'They've considered everything.' He had previously pleaded not guilty, but in exchange for the guilty pleas prosecutors have agreed to drop three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records. The Santa Monica physician is the fourth person who was indicted on criminal charges in connection to the Friends' star's death on Oct. 28, 2023. Jasveen Sangha, was known to her customers as the 'Ketamine Queen', is the only defendant who has not decided to take a plea deal in connection to the actor's death. She is slated to return to court August 19. Sangha remains in custody in Los Angeles awaiting trial. Others who have plead guilty include Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who discovered the actor's lifeless body in his hot tub. The LA County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the actor — who had battled substance abuse issues throughout his life — died of 'acute effects of ketamine.' Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy as treatment for his depression, but the last session was a week and a half before he died, the medical examiner determined. Ketamine is only in your system for three to four hours, which means it did not lead directly to his death. 'At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression,' the medical examiner, Raffi Djabourian, concluded. Two others — physician Mark Chavez, of San Diego and Erik Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne — also plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. In his plea agreement, Plasencia admitted he met Perry through another patient connected him with Perry. He admitted supplying Perry with 20 vials of ketamine totaling 100 mg of the drug, along with ketamine lozenges and syringes about a month before the actor's death. He also admitted enlisting Dr. Chavez, who supplied the drugs. In court documents, Plasencia texted Chavez: 'I wonder how much this moron will pay,' referring to Perry. Federal prosecutors said Plasencia sold the drugs to the actor for $4,500. He also told Chavez to keep the supplies coming so they could become the actor's 'go-to'. Perry - who had long struggled with addiction and staying sober - told Iwamasa to procure illegal drugs for him in late September 2023. Iwamasa allegedly obtained the ketamine he gave to Perry from Plasencia and Fleming. The assistant reportedly met with Plasencia at least seven times between September 30 and October 28, 2023. On the day of his death, Perry reportedly told Iwamasa to 'shoot me up with a big one,' and was injected with ketamine by the assistant three times, according to his plea agreement. Prosecutors allege Iwamasa also began obtaining ketamine for Perry from Fleming and Sangha beginning in mid-October 2023. After discussing prices with Iwamasa, Fleming allegedly coordinated the drug sales with Sangha, and brought cash from Iwamasa to Sangha's stash house in North Hollywood. On October 24, 2023, while waiting for Sangha's ketamine to arrive, In October 24, 2023, Fleming allegedly told Iwamasa that the ketamine was 'on its way to our girl,' referring to Sangha.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bryan Kohberger sentencing live updates: Families of Idaho murder victims to address killer directly in courtroom
Victim statements will be read, while Kohberger will have an opportunity to address the court. Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty earlier this month to killing four University of Idaho students in 2022, is scheduled to be sentenced today. The murder victims — Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin — were found stabbed to death in their off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022. Prosecutors laid out key DNA evidence, surveillance footage and cellphone records that linked Kohberger to the killings. Kohberger, 30, was expected to go through a lengthy and highly publicized trial in August. But in a surprise turn of events, Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2 to murdering the four students as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He's expected to receive four consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years for burglary, according to the deal. He also waived his right to appeal and to challenge the sentence. The agreement doesn't require Kohberger to explain his motive or actions, which has been one of many unanswered questions in the case as the victims' families search for answers. On Monday, President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that he hopes presiding Judge Steven Hippler 'makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders.' 'There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING. People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened,' Trump wrote online, adding, 'These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered.' Here's what to expect on Wednesday. When is the sentencing hearing? It is scheduled to take place today, July 23, at 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET) at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho. 'This hearing is expected to last the day,' according to the Ada County court's website. 'The court has tentatively scheduled short breaks mid-morning and mid-afternoon, as well as a 40-minute lunch break.' Will the public be able to watch the sentencing as it unfolds? Yes. The public will be able to watch Kohberger's sentencing in person at the courthouse and over livestream, according to the court's website. For people interested in attending in person, the courthouse will open at 7:30 a.m. MT, and the courtroom will open about 15 minutes before the hearing starts. An overflow room at the courthouse will also show the livestream. Who is expected to give victim impact statements? Kohberger will come face to face with the victims' families, who will get the chance to read their victim impact statements in open court. The families of Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle are angry with prosecutors over the plea deal and will be able to address their daughter's killer directly. 'Today was the day, the day for answers, the day to find out what happened, to find out really anything about what the Defendant did that night and why he took the lives of 4 beautiful people. At least that's what we hoped for but hope is really all we had today,' the Goncalves family's statement read following Kohberger's guilty plea. 'I had hoped the agreement would include conditions that required the defendant to explain his actions and provide answers to the many questions that still remain, especially where evidence is missing or unclear,' Jeff Kernodle, Xana's father, said in a statement on July 2. The two roommates who survived the murders, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, could speak in court themselves or have a statement read on their behalf by an attorney or relative. "Our hope is that not only the families, but the friends, even the Moscow community and all the communities that were affected by this, can start to heal and bring some sort of closure to this horrendous act,' Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger told ABC News. Judge Hippler said that to give the victims' families time to make their statements, the hearing may stretch into a second day. Will Kohberger speak? After the victim impact statements are read, Kohberger will have a chance to address the court before he is sentenced, in what is called an allocution. But he is not obligated to speak. This will provide an opportunity for Kohberger to reveal answers to burning questions that still remain a mystery: Why did he do it, why that house, and why those particular students? After the opportunity for Kohberger's allocution, Judge Hippler will hand down Kohberger's sentence. What's next after the sentencing? Kohberger is currently being held at the Ada County Jail in Boise. He'll be transferred into the custody of the Idaho Department of Corrections, where he'll be evaluated to determine where he will be housed to serve his sentences, spokesperson Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic told USA Today. A long-standing gag order was also lifted last week, which means police and prosecutors can now speak out about the case. Documents that were sealed in the high-profile case may be made public soon. "I think the rights of the public to information in this case is paramount given the fact that a plea has been entered in this case,' Judge Hippler said during a July 17 hearing. Hippler said he will review the sealed material in the weeks and months to come after Wednesday's scheduled sentencing to determine which documents should be made public.
